Deletion of miRNA-22 Induces Cardiac Hypertrophy in Females but Attenuates Obesogenic Diet-Mediated Metabolic Disorders.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Obesity is a risk factor associated with cardiometabolic complications. Recently, we reported that miRNA-22 deletion attenuated high-fat diet-induced adiposity and prevented dyslipidemia without affecting cardiac hypertrophy in male mice. In this study, we examined the impact of miRNA-22 in obesogenic diet-induced cardiovascular and metabolic disorders in females. METHODS: Wild type (WT) and miRNA-22 knockout (miRNA-22 KO) females were fed a control or an obesogenic diet. Body weight gain, adiposity, glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance, and plasma levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured. Cardiac and white adipose tissue remodeling was assessed by histological analyses. Echocardiography was used to evaluate cardiac function and morphology. RNA-sequencing analysis was employed to characterize mRNA expression profiles in female hearts. RESULTS: Loss of miRNA-22 attenuated body weight gain, adiposity, and prevented obesogenic diet-induced insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in females. WT obese females developed cardiac hypertrophy. Interestingly, miRNA-22 KO females displayed cardiac hypertrophy without left ventricular dysfunction and myocardial fibrosis. Both miRNA-22 deletion and obesogenic diet changed mRNA expression profiles in female hearts. Enrichment analysis revealed that genes associated with regulation of the force of heart contraction, protein folding and fatty acid oxidation were enriched in hearts of WT obese females. In addition, genes related to thyroid hormone responses, heart growth and PI3K signaling were enriched in hearts of miRNA-22 KO females. Interestingly, miRNA-22 KO obese females exhibited reduced mRNA levels of Yap1, Egfr and Tgfbr1 compared to their respective controls. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that miRNA-22 deletion induces cardiac hypertrophy in females without affecting myocardial function. In addition, our findings suggest miRNA-22 as a potential therapeutic target to treat obesity-related metabolic disorders in females.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress and Nox-mediated reactive oxygen species signaling in the peripheral vasculature: potential role in hypertension.

SIGNIFICANCE: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced during normal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) metabolism. There is accumulating evidence showing that under stress conditions such as ER stress, ROS production is increased via enzymes of the NADPH oxidase (Nox) family, especially via the Nox2 and Nox4 isoforms, which are involved in the regulation of blood pressure. Hypertension is a major contributor to cardiovascular and renal disease, and it has a complex pathophysiology involving the heart, kidney, brain, vessels, and immune system. ER stress activates the unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling pathway that has prosurvival and proapoptotic components. RECENT ADVANCES: Here, we summarize the evidence regarding the association of Nox enzymes and ER stress, and its potential contribution in the setting of hypertension, including the role of other conditions that can lead to hypertension (e.g., insulin resistance and diabetes). CRITICAL ISSUES: A better understanding of this association is currently of great interest, as it will provide further insights into the cellular mechanisms that can drive the ER stress-induced adaptive versus maladaptive pathways linked to hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions. More needs to be learnt about the precise signaling regulation of Nox(es) and ER stress in the cardiovascular system. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: The development of specific approaches that target individual Nox isoforms and the UPR signaling pathway may be important for the achievement of therapeutic efficacy in hypertension.